Council Regulation (EU) 2018/120 of 23 January 2018 fixing for 2018 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/127

Type Regulation
Publication 2018-01-31
Last updated 2019-10-31
State In force
Department Council of the European Union
Source EUR-Lex
articles 53
Reform history JSON API

COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2018/120

of 23 January 2018

fixing for 2018 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/127

TITLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1
Subject matter
1.

This Regulation fixes the fishing opportunities available in Union waters and to Union fishing vessels in certain non-Union waters, for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks.

2.

The fishing opportunities referred to in paragraph 1 include:

  • (a) catch limits for the year 2018 and, where specified in this Regulation, for the year 2019;
  • (b) fishing effort limits for the period from 1 February 2018 to 31 January 2019, except where other periods are established for effort limits in Articles 26, 27 and 39, and in Annex IIE, as well as regarding fish-aggregating devices (FADs);
  • (c) fishing opportunities for the period from 1 December 2017 to 30 November 2018 for certain stocks in the CCAMLR Convention Area;
  • (d) fishing opportunities for certain stocks in the IATTC Convention Area set out in Article 28 for the periods in 2018 and 2019 specified in that Article.
Article 2
Scope
1.

This Regulation shall apply to the following vessels:

  • (a) Union fishing vessels;
  • (b) third-country vessels in Union waters.
2.

This Regulation shall also apply to recreational fisheries where they are expressly referred to in the relevant provisions.

Article 3
Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 apply. In addition, the following definitions apply:

  • (a) ‘third-country vessel’ means a fishing vessel flying the flag of, and registered in, a third country;
  • (b) ‘recreational fisheries’ means non-commercial fishing activities exploiting marine biological resources such as for recreation, tourism or sport;
  • (c) ‘international waters’ means waters falling outside the sovereignty or jurisdiction of any State;
  • (d) ‘total allowable catch’ (TAC) means:
  • (i) in fisheries subject to the landing obligation referred to in Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the quantity of fish that can be caught from each stock each year;
  • (ii) in all other fisheries, the quantity of fish that can be landed from each stock each year;
  • (e) ‘quota’ means a proportion of the TAC allocated to the Union, a Member State or a third country;
  • (f) ‘analytical assessments’ means quantitative evaluations of trends in a given stock, based on data about the stock's biology and exploitation, which scientific review has indicated to be of sufficient quality to provide scientific advice on options for future catches;
  • (g) ‘mesh size’ means the mesh size of fishing nets as determined in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 517/2008 ([^E0001]);
  • (h) ‘Union fishing fleet register’ means the register set up by the Commission in accordance with Article 24(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;
  • (i) ‘fishing logbook’ means the logbook referred to in Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.
Article 4
Fishing zones

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following zone definitions apply:

  • (a) ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) zones are the geographical areas specified in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 218/2009 ([^E0002]);
  • (b) ‘Skagerrak’ means the geographical area bounded on the west by a line drawn from the Hanstholm lighthouse to the Lindesnes lighthouse and on the south by a line drawn from the Skagen lighthouse to the Tistlarna lighthouse and from that point to the nearest point on the Swedish coast;
  • (c) ‘Kattegat’ means the geographical area bounded on the north by a line drawn from the Skagen lighthouse to the Tistlarna lighthouse and from that point to the nearest point on the Swedish coast and on the south by a line drawn from Hasenøre to Gnibens Spids, from Korshage to Spodsbjerg and from Gilbjerg Hoved to Kullen;
  • (d) ‘Functional Unit 16 of ICES subarea 7’ means the geographical area bounded by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions:
  • — 53° 30′ N 15° 00′ W,
  • — 53° 30′ N 11° 00′ W,
  • — 51° 30′ N 11° 00′ W,
  • — 51° 30′ N 13° 00′ W,
  • — 51° 00′ N 13° 00′ W,
  • — 51° 00′ N 15° 00′ W,
  • — 53° 30′ N 15° 00′ W;
  • (e) ‘Functional Unit 26 of ICES division 9a’ means the geographical area bounded by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions:
  • — 43° 00′ N 8° 00′ W,
  • — 43° 00′ N 10° 00′ W,
  • — 42° 00′ N 10° 00′ W,
  • — 42° 00′ N 8° 00′ W;
  • (f) ‘Functional Unit 27 of ICES division 9a’ means the geographical area bounded by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions:
  • — 42° 00′ N 8° 00′ W,
  • — 42° 00′ N 10° 00′ W,
  • — 38° 30′ N 10° 00′ W,
  • — 38° 30′ N 9° 00′ W,
  • — 40° 00′ N 9° 00′ W,
  • — 40° 00′ N 8° 00′ W;
  • (g) ‘Functional Unit 30 of ICES division 9a’ means the geographical area under the jurisdiction of Spain in the Gulf of Cádiz and in the adjacent waters of 9a;
  • (h) ‘Gulf of Cádiz’ means the geographical area of ICES division 9a east of longitude 7° 23′ 48″ W;
  • (i) CECAF (Committee for Eastern Central Atlantic Fisheries) areas are the geographical areas specified in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 216/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council ([^E0003]);
  • (j) NAFO (Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation) areas are the geographical areas specified in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 217/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council ([^E0004]);
  • (k) ‘SEAFO (South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation) Convention Area’ is the geographical area defined in the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Fishery Resources in the South-East Atlantic Ocean ([^E0005]);
  • (l) ‘ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) Convention Area’ is the geographical area defined in the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas ([^E0006]);
  • (m) ‘CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) Convention Area’ is the geographical area defined in point (a) of Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 ([^E0007]);
  • (n) ‘IATTC (Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission) Convention Area’ is the geographical area defined in the Convention for the Strengthening of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission established by the 1949 Convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica ([^E0008]);
  • (o) ‘IOTC (Indian Ocean Tuna Commission) Area of Competence’ is the geographical area defined in the Agreement for the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission ([^E0009]);
  • (p) ‘SPRFMO (South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation) Convention Area’ is the geographical area defined in the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean ([^E0010]);
  • (q) ‘WCPFC (Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission) Convention Area’ is the geographical area defined in the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean ([^E0011]);
  • (r) ‘GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean) geographical subareas’ are the areas defined in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council ([^E0012]).
  • (s) ‘high seas of the Bering Sea’ is the geographical area of the high seas of the Bering Sea beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea of the coastal States of the Bering Sea is measured;
  • (t) ‘overlap area between IATTC and WCPFC’ is the geographical area defined by the following limits:
  • — longitude 150° W,
  • — longitude 130° W,
  • — latitude 4° S,
  • — latitude 50° S.

TITLE II FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNION FISHING VESSELS

CHAPTER I General provisions

Article 5
TACs and allocations
1.

The TACs for Union fishing vessels in Union waters or certain non-Union waters and the allocation of such TACs among Member States, and the conditions functionally linked thereto, where appropriate, are set out in Annex I.

2.

Union fishing vessels shall be authorised to make catches, within the TACs set out in Annex I to this Regulation, in waters falling within the fisheries jurisdiction of the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Norway, and the fishing zone around Jan Mayen, subject to the condition set out in Article 15 of, and Annex III to, this Regulation and in Council Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008 ([^E0013]) and its implementing provisions.

Article 6
TACs to be determined by Member States
1.

The TACs for certain fish stocks shall be determined by the Member State concerned. Those stocks are identified in Annex I.

2.

The TACs to be determined by a Member State shall:

  • (a) be consistent with the principles and rules of the CFP, in particular the principle of sustainable exploitation of the stock; and
  • (b) result:
  • (i) if analytical assessments are available, in the exploitation of the stock consistent with maximum sustainable yield from 2018 onwards, with as high a probability as possible; or
  • (ii) if analytical assessments are unavailable or incomplete, in the exploitation of the stock consistent with the precautionary approach to fisheries management.
3.

By 15 March 2018, each Member State concerned shall submit the following information to the Commission:

  • (a) the TACs adopted;
  • (b) the data collected and assessed by the Member State concerned on which the TACs adopted are based;
  • (c) details on how the TACs adopted comply with paragraph 2.
Article 7
Conditions for landing catches and by-catches
1.

Catches that are not subject to the landing obligation established in Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 shall be retained on board or landed only if they:

  • (a) have been taken by vessels flying the flag of a Member State having a quota and that quota has not been exhausted; or
  • (b) consist of a share in a Union quota which has not been allocated by quota among Member States, and that Union quota has not been exhausted.
2.

The stocks of non-target species within safe biological limits referred to in Article 15(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 are identified in Annex I to this Regulation for the purposes of the derogation from the obligation to count catches against the relevant quotas provided for in that Article.

Article 8
Fishing effort limits

For the periods referred to in Article 1(2)(b), the following fishing effort measures shall apply:

  • (a) Annex IIA for the management of plaice and sole stocks in ICES subarea 4;
  • (b) Annex IIB for the recovery of hake and Norway lobster in ICES divisions 8c and 9a, with the exception of the Gulf of Cádiz;
  • (c) Annex IIC for the management of the sole stock in ICES division 7e.
Article 9
Measures on European seabass fisheries
1.

It shall be prohibited for Union fishing vessels, as well as for any commercial fisheries from shore, to fish for European seabass in ICES divisions 4b and 4c, and in ICES subarea 7. It shall be prohibited to retain on board, tranship, relocate or land European seabass caught in that area.

2.

By derogation from paragraph 1, in January 2018 and from 1 April to 31 December 2018, Union fishing vessels in ICES divisions 4b, 4c, 7d, 7e, 7f and 7h and in waters within 12 nautical miles from baselines under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom in ICES divisions 7a and 7g may fish for European seabass, and retain on board, tranship, relocate or land European seabass caught in that area with the following gears and within the following limits:

  • (a) using demersal trawls ([^E0014]), for unavoidable by-catches not exceeding 100 kilogrammes per month and 1 % of the weight of the total catches of marine organisms on board caught by that vessel in any single day;
  • (b) using seines ([^E0015]), for unavoidable by-catches not exceeding 180 kilogrammes per month and 1 % of the weight of the total catches of marine organisms on board caught by that vessel in any single day;
  • (c) using hooks and lines ([^E0016]), not exceeding 5 tonnes per vessel per year;
  • (d) using fixed gillnets ([^E0017]), for unavoidable by-catches not exceeding 1,2 tonnes per vessel per year.

The derogations set out in the first subparagraph shall apply to Union fishing vessels that have recorded catches of European seabass over the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 September 2016: in point (c) with recorded catches using hooks and lines, and in point (d) with recorded catches using fixed gillnets. In the case of a replacement of a Union fishing vessel, Member States may allow the derogation to apply to another fishing vessel provided that the number of Union fishing vessels subject to the derogation and their overall fishing capacity do not increase.

3.

The catch limits set in paragraph 2 shall not be transferable between vessels and, where a monthly limit applies, from one month to another. For Union fishing vessels using more than one gear in a single calendar month, the lowest catch limit set in paragraph 2 for either gear shall apply.

Member States shall report to the Commission all catches of European seabass per type of gear not later than 15 days after the end of each month.

4.

In recreational fisheries, including from shore:

  • (a) from 1 January 2018 to 30 September 2018, in ICES divisions 4b, 4c, 7a to 7k, only catch-and-release fishing for European seabass shall be allowed. During that period, it shall be prohibited to retain on board, relocate, tranship or land European seabass caught in that area;
  • (b) from 1 October to 31 December 2018, in ICES divisions 4b, 4c, 6a, 7a to 7k, not more than one specimen of European seabass may be retained per fisherman per day.
5.

In recreational fisheries in ICES divisions 8a and 8b, a maximum of three specimens of European seabass may be retained per fisherman per day.

Article 10
Measures on European eel fisheries

It shall be prohibited for Union fishing vessels and third country vessels, as well as for any commercial fisheries from shore, to fish for European eel of an overall length of 12 cm or longer in Union waters of ICES area, including in the Baltic Sea, for a consecutive three-month period to be determined by each Member State between 1 September 2018 and 31 January 2019. Member States shall communicate the determined period to the Commission not later than 1 June 2018.

Article 11
Special provisions on allocations of fishing opportunities
1.

The allocation of fishing opportunities among Member States as set out in this Regulation shall be without prejudice to:

  • (a) exchanges made pursuant to Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;
  • (b) deductions and reallocations made pursuant to Article 37 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009;
  • (c) reallocations made pursuant to Article 10(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008;
  • (d) additional landings allowed under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 and Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;
  • (e) quantities withheld in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 and Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;
  • (f) deductions made pursuant to Articles 105, 106 and 107 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009;
  • (g) quota transfers and exchanges pursuant to Article 15 of this Regulation.
2.

Stocks which are subject to precautionary or analytical TACs are identified in Annex I to this Regulation for the purposes of the year-to-year management of TACs and quotas provided for in Regulation (EC) No 847/96.

3.

Except where otherwise specified in Annex I to this Regulation, Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall apply to stocks subject to a precautionary TAC and Article 3(2) and (3) and Article 4 of that Regulation shall apply to stocks subject to an analytical TAC.

4.

Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply where a Member State uses the year-to-year flexibility provided for in Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.

Article 12
Closed fishing seasons
1.

It shall be prohibited to fish or retain on board any of the following species in the Porcupine Bank during the period from 1 May to 31 May 2018: cod, megrims, anglerfish, haddock, whiting, hake, Norway lobster, plaice, pollack, saithe, skates and rays, common sole, tusk, blue ling, ling and picked dogfish.

For the purposes of this paragraph, the Porcupine Bank shall comprise the geographical area bounded by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions:

Point Latitude Longitude
1 52° 27′ N 12° 19′ W
2 52° 40′ N 12° 30′ W
3 52° 47′ N 12° 39,600′ W
4 52° 47′ N 12° 56′ W
5 52° 13,5′ N 13° 53,830′ W
6 51° 22′ N 14° 24′ W
7 51° 22′ N 14° 03′ W
8 52° 10′ N 13° 25′ W
9 52° 32′ N 13° 07,500′ W
10 52° 43′ N 12° 55′ W
11 52° 43′ N 12° 43′ W
12 52° 38,800′ N 12° 37′ W
13 52° 27′ N 12° 23′ W
14 52° 27′ N 12° 19′ W

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, transit through the Porcupine Bank while carrying on board the species referred to in that subparagraph, shall be permitted in accordance with Article 50(3), (4) and (5) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

2.

Commercial fishing for sandeel with demersal trawl, seine or similar towed gears with a mesh size of less than 16 mm shall be prohibited in ICES divisions 2a, 3a and ICES subarea 4 from 1 January to 31 March 2018 and from 1 August to 31 December 2018.

The prohibition set out in the first subparagraph shall also apply to third-country vessels authorised to fish for sandeel and associated by-catches in Union waters of ICES subarea 4.

Article 13
Prohibitions
1.

It shall be prohibited for Union fishing vessels to fish for, to retain on board, to tranship or to land the following species:

  • (a) starry ray (Amblyraja radiata) in Union waters of ICES divisions 2a, 3a and 7d and ICES subarea 4;
  • (b) white shark (Carcharodon carcharías) in all waters;
  • (c) leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14;
  • (d) Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14;
  • (e) basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) in all waters;
  • (f) kitefin shark (Dalatias licha) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14;
  • (g) birdbeak dogfish (Deania calcea) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14;
  • (h) common skate (Dipturus batis) complex (Dipturus cf. flossada and Dipturus cf. intermedia) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subareas 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10;
  • (i) great lanternshark (Etmopterus princeps) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 14;
  • (j) smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus pusillus) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 14;
  • (k) tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) when taken with longlines in Union waters of ICES division 2a and subarea 4 and in Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 14;
  • (l) porbeagle (Lamna nasus) in all waters;
  • (m) reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) in all waters;
  • (n) giant manta ray (Manta birostris) in all waters;
  • (o) the following species of Mobula rays in all waters:
  • (i) devil fish (Mobula mobular),
  • (ii) lesser Guinean devil ray (Mobula rochebrunei),
  • (iii) spinetail mobula (Mobula japanica),
  • (iv) smoothtail mobula (Mobula thurstoni),
  • (v) longhorned mobula (Mobula eregoodootenkee),
  • (vi) Munk's devil ray (Mobula munkiana),
  • (vii) Chilean devil ray (Mobula tarapacana),
  • (viii) shortfin devil ray (Mobula kuhlii),
  • (ix) lesser devil ray (Mobula hypostoma);
  • (p) the following species of sawfish (Pristidae) in all waters:
  • (i) pointed sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata),
  • (ii) dwarf sawfish (Pristis clavata),
  • (iii) smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata),
  • (iv) largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis),
  • (v) green sawfish (Pristis zijsron);
  • (q) thornback ray (Raja clavata) in Union waters of ICES division 3a;
  • (r) Norwegian skate (Dipturus nidarosiensis) in Union waters of ICES divisions 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h and 7k;
  • (s) undulate ray (Raja undulata) in Union waters of ICES subareas 6 and 10;
  • (t) white skate (Rostroraja alba) in Union waters of ICES subareas 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10;
  • (u) guitarfishes (Rhinobatidae) in Union waters of ICES subareas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12;
  • (v) picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias) in Union waters of ICES subareas 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, with the exception of avoidance programmes as set out in Annex IA;
  • (w) angel shark (Squatina squatina) in Union waters;
  • (x) whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in all waters.
2.

When accidentally caught, species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed. Specimens shall be promptly released.

Article 14
Data transmission

When, pursuant to Articles 33 and 34 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, Member States submit to the Commission data relating to landings of quantities of stocks caught, they shall use the stock codes set out in Annex I to this Regulation.

CHAPTER II Fishing authorisations in third-country waters

Article 15
Fishing authorisations
1.

The maximum number of fishing authorisations for Union fishing vessels fishing in waters of a third country is set out in Annex III.

2.

Where one Member State transfers quota to another Member State (‘swap’) in the fishing areas set out in Annex III to this Regulation on the basis of Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the transfer shall include an appropriate transfer of fishing authorisations and shall be notified to the Commission. However, the total number of fishing authorisations for each fishing area, as set out in Annex III to this Regulation, shall not be exceeded.

CHAPTER III Fishing opportunities in waters of regional fisheries management organisations

Article 16
Quota transfers and exchanges
1.

Where, under the rules of a regional fisheries management organisation (‘RFMO’), quota transfers or exchanges between the Contracting Parties to the RFMO are permitted, a Member State (‘the Member State concerned’) may discuss with a Contracting Party to the RFMO and, as appropriate, establish a possible outline of an intended quota transfer or exchange.

2.

Upon notification to the Commission by the Member State concerned, the Commission may endorse the outline of the intended quota transfer or exchange that the Member State has discussed with the relevant Contracting Party to the RFMO. Thereupon, the Commission shall express, without undue delay, the consent to be bound by such quota transfer or exchange with the relevant Contracting Party to the RFMO. The Commission shall notify the secretariat of the RFMO of the agreed quota transfer or exchange in accordance with the rules of that organisation.

3.

The Commission shall inform the Member States of the agreed quota transfer or exchange.

4.

The fishing opportunities received from or transferred to the relevant Contracting Party to the RFMO under the quota transfer or exchange shall be deemed to be quotas allocated to, or deducted from, the allocation of the Member State concerned, as of the moment that the quota transfer or exchange takes effect in accordance with the terms of the agreement reached with the relevant Contracting Party to the RFMO or in accordance with the rules of the relevant RFMO, as appropriate. Such allocation shall not change the existing distribution key for the purpose of allocating fishing opportunities among Member States in accordance with the principle of relative stability of fishing activities.

5.

This Article shall apply until 31 January 2019 for quota transfers from a RFMO Contracting Party to the Union and their subsequent allocation to Member States.

Section 1 ICCAT Convention Area

Article 17
Fishing, farming and fattening capacity limitations
1.

The number of Union bait boats and trolling boats authorised to fish actively for bluefin tuna between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm in the Eastern Atlantic shall be limited as set out in point 1 of Annex IV.

2.

The number of Union coastal artisanal fishing vessels authorised to fish actively for bluefin tuna between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm in the Mediterranean shall be limited as set out in point 2 of Annex IV.

3.

The number of Union fishing vessels fishing for bluefin tuna in the Adriatic Sea for farming purposes authorised to fish actively for bluefin tuna between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm shall be limited as set out in point 3 of Annex IV.

4.

The number and total capacity in gross tonnage of fishing vessels authorised to fish for, retain on board, tranship, transport, or land bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean shall be limited as set out in point 4 of Annex IV.

5.

The number of traps engaged in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishery shall be limited as set out in point 5 of Annex IV.

6.

The bluefin tuna farming capacity, the fattening capacity and the maximum input of wild caught bluefin tuna allocated to the farms in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean shall be limited as set out in point 6 of Annex IV.

7.

The maximum number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for northern albacore as a target species in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 520/2007 shall be limited as set out in point 7 of Annex IV to this Regulation.

8.

The maximum number of Union fishing vessels of at least 20 metres length that fish for bigeye tuna in the ICCAT Convention Area shall be limited as set out in point 8 of Annex IV.

Article 18
Recreational fisheries

Where appropriate, Member States shall allocate a specific share for recreational fisheries from their allocated quotas as set out in Annex ID.

Article 19
Sharks
1.

Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of bigeye thresher sharks (Alopias superciliosus) in any fishery shall be prohibited.

2.

It shall be prohibited to undertake a directed fishery for species of thresher sharks of the Alopias genus.

3.

Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of hammerhead sharks of the Sphyrnidae family (except for the Sphyrna tiburo) in association with fisheries in the ICCAT Convention Area shall be prohibited.

4.

Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) taken in any fishery shall be prohibited.

5.

Retaining on board silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) taken in any fishery shall be prohibited.

Section 2 CCAMLR Convention Area

Article 20
Prohibitions and catch limitations
1.

Direct fishing of the species set out in Part A of Annex V, shall be prohibited in the zones and during the periods set out therein.

2.

For exploratory fisheries, the TACs and by-catch limits set out in Part B of Annex V, shall apply in the subareas set out therein.

Article 21
Exploratory fisheries
1.

Member States may participate in longline exploratory fisheries for toothfish (Dissostichus spp.) in FAO subareas 88.1 and 88.2 as well as in divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2 and 58.4.3a outside areas of national jurisdiction in 2018. If a Member State intends to participate in such fisheries, it shall notify the CCAMLR Secretariat in accordance with Articles 7 and 7a of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 and in any case no later than 1 June 2018.

2.

With regard to FAO subareas 88.1 and 88.2 as well as divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2 and 58.4.3a, TACs and by-catch limits per subarea and division, and their distribution among Small Scale Research Units (SSRUs) within each of them, shall be as set out in Part B of Annex V. Fishing in any SSRU shall cease when the reported catch reaches the specified TAC, and the SSRU shall be closed to fishing for the remainder of the season.

3.

Fishing shall take place over as large a geographical and bathymetric range as possible to obtain the information necessary to determine fishery potential and to avoid over-concentration of catch and fishing effort. However, fishing in FAO subareas 88.1 and 88.2 as well as in divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2 and 58.4.3a shall be prohibited in depths less than 550 metres.

Article 22
Krill fishery during the 2018/2019 fishing season
1.

If a Member State intends to fish for krill (Euphausia superba) in the CCAMLR Convention Area during the 2018/2019 fishing season, it shall notify the Commission, no later than 1 May 2018, of its intention to fish for krill, using the format laid down in Part C of Annex V to this Regulation. On the basis of the information provided by Member States, the Commission shall submit the notifications to the CCAMLR Secretariat no later than 30 May 2018.

2.

The notification referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall include the information provided for in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 for each vessel to be authorised by the Member State to participate in the krill fishery.

3.

A Member State intending to fish for krill in the CCAMLR Convention Area shall notify its intention to do so only in respect of authorised vessels either flying its flag at the time of the notification or flying the flag of another CCAMLR member that are expected, at the time the fishery takes place, to be flying the flag of that Member State.

4.

Member States shall be entitled to authorise participation in a krill fishery by vessels other than those notified to CCAMLR Secretariat in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article, if an authorised vessel is prevented from participation due to legitimate operational reasons or force majeure. In such circumstances the Member States concerned shall immediately inform the CCAMLR Secretariat and the Commission, providing:

  • (a) full details of the intended replacement vessel(s), including information provided for in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004;
  • (b) a comprehensive account of the reasons justifying the replacement and any relevant supporting evidence or references.
5.

Member States shall not authorise a vessel on any CCAMLR illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) Vessel List to participate in krill fisheries.

Section 3 IOTC Area of Competence

Article 23
Limitation of fishing capacity of vessels fishing in the IOTC Area of Competence
1.

The maximum number of Union fishing vessels fishing for tropical tunas in the IOTC Area of Competence and the corresponding capacity in gross tonnage shall be as set out in point 1 of Annex VI.

2.

The maximum number of Union fishing vessels fishing for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in the IOTC Area of Competence and the corresponding capacity in gross tonnage shall be as set out in point 2 of Annex VI.

3.

Member States may re-allocate vessels assigned to one of the two fisheries referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 to the other fishery, provided that they can demonstrate to the Commission that this change does not lead to an increase of fishing effort on the fish stocks involved.

4.

Member States shall ensure that, where there is a proposed transfer of capacity to their fleet, vessels to be transferred are on the IOTC Record of Vessels or on the record of vessels of other tuna RFMOs. Furthermore, no vessels featuring on the list of vessels engaged in IUU fishing activities of any RFMO may be transferred.

5.

Member States may only increase their fishing capacity beyond the ceilings referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 within the limits set out in the development plans submitted to the IOTC.

Article 24
Drifting FADs and supply vessels
1.

A purse-seine vessel shall not deploy more than 350 active drifting FADs at any time.

2.

The number of supply vessels shall be no more than one supply vessel in support of not less than two purse-seine vessels, all flying the flag of the same Member State. This provision shall not apply to Member States using only one supply vessel.

3.

A single purse seine vessel shall not be supported by more than one single supply vessel of the same flag State at any time.

4.

As from 1 January 2018, no new or additional supply vessel shall be registered in the IOTC Record of Authorised Vessels.

Article 25
Sharks
1.

Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of thresher sharks of all the species of the Alopiidae family in any fishery shall be prohibited.

2.

Retaining on board, transhipping or landing any part or whole carcass of oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) in any fishery shall be prohibited, except for vessels under 24 metres overall length engaged solely in fishing operations within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Member State whose flag they fly, and provided that their catch is destined solely for local consumption.

3.

When accidentally caught, species referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not be harmed. Specimens shall be promptly released.

Section 4 SPRFMO Convention Area

Article 26
Pelagic fisheries
1.

Only Member States having actively exercised pelagic fisheries activities in the SPRFMO Convention Area in 2007, 2008 or 2009 may fish for pelagic stocks in that area in accordance with the TACs set out in Annex IJ.

2.

Member States referred to in paragraph 1 shall limit the total level of gross tonnage of vessels flying their flag and fishing for pelagic stocks in 2017 to the total Union level of 78 600 gross tonnage in that area.

3.

The fishing opportunities set out in Annex IJ may only be used under the condition that Member States send to the Commission the list of vessels actively fishing or engaged in transhipment in the SPRFMO Convention Area, records from vessel monitoring systems, monthly catch reports and, where available, port calls, at the latest by the fifth day of the following month, with the aim of communicating that information to the SPRFMO Secretariat.

Article 27
Bottom fisheries
1.

Member States shall limit their bottom fishing catch or effort in 2017 in the SPRFMO Convention Area to those parts of the Convention Area where bottom fishing has occurred from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2006 and to a level that does not exceed the annual average levels of catches or effort parameters in that period. They may fish beyond the track record only if SPRFMO endorses their plan to fish beyond the track record.

2.

Member States without a track record in bottom fishing catch or effort in the SPRFMO Convention Area over the period from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2006 shall not fish, unless SPRFMO endorses their plan to fish without the track record.

Section 5 IATTC Convention Area

Article 28
Purse-seine fisheries
1.

Fishing by purse-seine vessels for yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) and skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) shall be prohibited:

  • (a) from 29 July 00:00 hours to 8 October 2018 24:00 hours or from 9 November 2018 00:00 hours to 19 January 2019 24:00 hours in the area defined by the following limits:
  • — the Pacific coastlines of the Americas,
  • — longitude 150° W,
  • — latitude 40° N,
  • — latitude 40° S;
  • (b) from 9 October 2018 00:00 hours to 8 November 2018 24:00 hours in the area defined by the following limits:
  • — longitude 96° W,
  • — longitude 110° W,
  • — latitude 4° N,
  • — latitude 3° S.
2.

For each of their vessels, Member States concerned shall notify to the Commission before 1 April 2018 the selected period of closure referred to in paragraph 1. All the purse-seine vessels of the Member States concerned shall stop purse-seine fishing in the areas defined in paragraph 1 during the selected period.

3.

Purse-seine vessels fishing for tuna in the IATTC Convention Area shall retain on board and then land or tranship all yellowfin, bigeye and skipjack tuna caught.

4.

Paragraph 3 shall not apply in the following cases:

  • (a) where the fish is considered unfit for human consumption for reasons other than size; or
  • (b) during the final set of a trip when there may be insufficient well space remaining to accommodate all the tuna caught in that set.
Article 29
Drifting FADs
1.

A purse-seine vessel shall not have more than 450 FADs active at any time in the IATTC Convention Area. A FAD is considered active when it is deployed at sea, starts transmitting its location and is being tracked by the vessel, its owner or operator. A FAD shall only be activated on board a purse-seine vessel.

2.

A purse-seine vessel may not deploy FADs during 15 days before the start of the selected closure period set out in Article 28(1)(a) and it shall recover the same number of FADs as initially deployed within 15 days prior to the start of the closure period.

3.

Member States shall report to the Commission, on a monthly basis, daily information on all active FADs as required by the IATTC. The reports shall be submitted with a delay of at least 60 days, but not longer than 75 days. The Commission shall transmit that information to the IATTC Secretariat without delay.

Article 30
Catch limits for bigeye tuna in long-line fisheries

The total annual catches of bigeye tuna by longline vessels of each Member State in the IATTC Convention Area shall not exceed 500 metric tons or their respective yearly catches of bigeye tuna in 2001.

Article 31
Prohibition of fishing for oceanic whitetip sharks
1.

It shall be prohibited to fish for oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) in the IATTC Convention Area, and to retain on board, to tranship, to store, to offer to sell, to sell or to land any part or whole carcass of oceanic whitetip sharks caught in that area.

2.

When accidentally caught, the species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed. Specimens shall be promptly released by vessel operators.

3.

Vessel operators shall:

  • (a) record the number of releases with indication of status (dead or alive);
  • (b) report the information specified in point (a) to the Member State of which they are nationals. Member States shall transmit the information collected during the previous year to the Commission by 31 January.
Article 32
Prohibition of fishing for Mobulid rays

It shall be prohibited for Union fishing vessels in the IATTC Convention Area to fish for, to retain on board, to tranship, to land, to store, to offer to sell or to sell any part or whole carcass of Mobulid rays (family Mobulidae, which includes the genera Manta and Mobula). As soon as Union fishing vessels notice that Mobulid rays have been caught, Union fishing vessels shall, wherever possible, promptly release them alive and unharmed.

Section 6 SEAFO Convention Area

Article 33
Prohibition of fishing for deep water sharks

Directed fishing for the following deep water sharks in the SEAFO Convention Area shall be prohibited:

  • — ghost catshark (Apristurus manis),
  • — blurred smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus bigelowi),
  • — shorttail lanternshark (Etmopterus brachyurus),
  • — great lanternshark (Etmopterus princeps),
  • — smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus pusillus),
  • — skates (Rajidae),
  • — velvet dogfish (Scymnodon squamulosus),
  • — deep-sea sharks of the Selachimorpha super-order,
  • — picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias).

Section 7 WCPFC Convention Area

Article 34
Conditions for bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna and south Pacific albacore fisheries
1.

Member States shall ensure that the number of fishing days allocated to purse-seine vessels fishing for bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) in the part of the WCPFC Convention Area located in the high seas between 20° N and 20° S does not exceed 403 days.

2.

Union fishing vessels shall not target south Pacific albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in the WCPFC Convention Area south of 20° S.

3.

Member States shall ensure that catches of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) by longliners do not exceed 2 000 tonnes in 2018.

Article 35
Management of fishing with FADs
1.

In the part of the WCPFC Convention Area located between 20° N and 20° S, it shall be prohibited for purse-seine vessels to deploy, service or set on FADs between 00:00 hours of 1 July 2018 and 24:00 hours of 30 September 2018.

2.

In addition to the prohibition set in paragraph 1, it shall be prohibited to set on FADs on the high seas of the WCPFC Convention Area, between 20° N and 20° S, for an additional two months: either from 00:00 hours of 1 April 2018 to 24:00 hours of 31 May 2018, or from 00:00 hours of 1 November 2018 to 24:00 hours of 31 December 2018. The choice for the additional two months shall be notified to the Commission before 31 January 2018.

3.

Paragraph 2 shall not apply in the following cases:

  • (a) in the final set of a trip, if the vessel has insufficient well space left to accommodate all fish;
  • (b) where the fish is unfit for human consumption for reasons other than size; or
  • (c) when a serious malfunction of freezer equipment occurs.
4.

Member States shall ensure that each of its purse-seine vessels have deployed at sea, at any time, no more than 350 FADs with activated instrumented buoys. The buoy shall be activated exclusively onboard a vessel.

5.

All purse-seine vessels fishing in the part of the WCPFC Convention Area referred to in paragraph 1 shall retain onboard and land or tranship all bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack tuna caught.

Article 36
Limitations to the number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for swordfish

The maximum number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in areas south of 20° S of the WCPFC Convention Area shall be as set out in Annex VII.

Article 37
Catch limits for swordfish in long-line fisheries south of 20°S

Member States shall ensure that catches of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) south of 20°S by long-liners do not exceed in 2018 the limit set out in Annex IH. Member States shall also ensure that there is no shift of the fishing effort for swordfish to the area north of the 20°S, as a result of that measure.

Article 38
Silky sharks and oceanic whitetip sharks
1.

Retaining on board, transhipping, storing or landing any part or whole carcass of the following species in the WCPFC Convention Area shall be prohibited:

  • (a) silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis),
  • (b) oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus).
2.

When accidentally caught, species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed. Specimens shall be promptly released.

Article 39
Overlap area between IATTC and WCPFC
1.

Vessels listed exclusively in the WCPFC register shall apply the measures set out in this Section when fishing in the overlap area between IATTC and WCPFC as defined in Article 4(s).

2.

Vessels listed in both the WCPFC register and the IATTC register and vessels listed exclusively in the IATTC register shall apply the measures set out in Article 28(1)(a), (2), (3) and (4) and Articles 29, 30 and 31 when fishing in the overlap area between IATTC and WCPFC as defined in Article 4(s).

Section 8 GFCM Agreement Area

Article 40
Small pelagic stocks in geographical subareas 17 and 18
1.

Catches of small pelagic stocks by Union fishing vessels in the geographical subareas 17 and 18 shall not exceed the levels exerted in 2014, reported in accordance with Article 24 of Regulation (EU) No 1343/2011, as set out in Annex IL to this Regulation.

2.

Union fishing vessels targeting small pelagic stocks in geographical subareas 17 and 18 shall not exceed 180 fishing days per year. Within that total of 180 fishing days, a maximum of 144 fishing days targeting sardine and a maximum of 144 fishing days targeting anchovy shall apply.

Section 9 Bering Sea

Article 41
Prohibition on fishing in the high seas of the Bering Sea

Fishing for pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) in the high seas of the Bering Sea shall be prohibited.

TITLE III FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIRD-COUNTRY VESSELS IN UNION WATERS

Article 42
TACs

Fishing vessels flying the flag of Norway and fishing vessels registered in the Faroe Islands shall be authorised to make catches in Union waters within the TACs set out in Annex I to this Regulation and shall be subject to the conditions provided for in this Regulation and in Chapter III of Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008.

Article 43
Fishing authorisations

Fishing vessels flying the flag of Venezuela shall be subject to the conditions provided for in this Regulation and in Chapter III of Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008. The maximum number of fishing authorisations for third-country vessels fishing in Union waters shall be as set out in Annex VIII to this Regulation.

Article 44
Conditions for landing catches and by-catches

The conditions specified in Article 7 shall apply to catches and by-catches of third-country vessels fishing under the authorisations specified in Article 43.

Article 45
Prohibitions
1.

It shall be prohibited for third-country vessels to fish for, to retain on board, to tranship or to land the following species whenever they are found in Union waters:

  • (a) starry ray (Amblyraja radiata) in Union waters of ICES divisions 2a, 3a and 7d and ICES subarea 4;
  • (b) the following species of sawfish in Union waters:
  • (i) pointed sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata),
  • (ii) dwarf sawfish (Pristis clavata),
  • (iii) smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata),
  • (iv) largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis),
  • (v) green sawfish (Pristis zijsron);
  • (c) basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) and white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) in Union waters;
  • (d) common skate (Dipturus batis) complex (Dipturus cf. flossada and Dipturus cf. intermedia) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subareas 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10;
  • (e) tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) when taken with longlines in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subareas 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 14;
  • (f) smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus pusillus) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subareas 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 14;
  • (g) kitefin shark (Dalatias licha), birdbeak dogfish (Deania calcea), leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus), great lanternshark (Etmopterus princeps) and Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis) in Union waters of ICES division 2a and ICES subareas 1, 4 and 14;
  • (h) porbeagle (Lamna nasus) in Union waters;
  • (i) reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) in Union waters;
  • (j) giant manta ray (Manta birostris) in Union waters;
  • (k) the following species of Mobula rays in Union waters:
  • (i) devil fish (Mobula mobular),
  • (ii) lesser Guinean devil ray (Mobula rochebrunei),
  • (iii) spinetail mobula (Mobula japanica),
  • (iv) smoothtail mobula (Mobula thurstoni),
  • (v) longhorned mobula (Mobula eregoodootenkee),
  • (vi) Munk's devil ray (Mobula munkiana),
  • (vii) Chilean devil ray (Mobula tarapacana),
  • (viii) shortfin devil ray (Mobula kuhlii),
  • (ix) lesser devil ray (Mobula hypostoma);
  • (l) hornback ray (Raja clavata) in Union waters of ICES division 3a;
  • (m) Norwegian skate (Dipturus nidarosiensis) in Union waters of ICES divisions 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h and 7k;
  • (n) undulate ray (Raja undulata) in Union waters of ICES subareas 6, 9 and 10 and white skate (Rostroraja alba) in Union waters of ICES subareas 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10;
  • (o) guitarfishes (Rhinobatidae) in Union waters of ICES subareas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12;
  • (p) picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias) in Union waters of ICES subareas 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10;
  • (q) angel shark (Squatina squatina) in Union waters;
  • (r) whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in Union waters.
2.

When accidentally caught, the species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed. Specimens shall be promptly released.

TITLE IV FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2017

Article 46
Amendment to Regulation (EU) 2017/127

The fishing opportunities table for turbot and brill in Union waters of IIa and IV in Annex IA to Regulation (EU) 2017/127 is replaced by the following table:

Species: Turbot and brill Psetta maxima and Scopthalmus rhombus Turbot and brill Psetta maxima and Scopthalmus rhombus Zone: Union waters of IIa and IV (T/B/2AC4-C)
Belgium Belgium 434
Denmark Denmark 928
Germany Germany 237
France France 112
The Netherlands The Netherlands 3 291
Sweden Sweden 7
United Kingdom United Kingdom 915
Union Union 5 924
TAC TAC 5 924 Precautionary TAC

TITLE V FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 47
Committee procedure
1.

The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture established by Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.

2.

Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

Article 48
Transitional provision

Article 9 , Article 11(2), Articles 13, 19, 20, 25, 31, 32, 33, 38, 41 and 45 shall continue to apply, *mutatis mutandis*, in 2019 until the entry into force of the Regulation fixing the fishing opportunities for 2019.

Article 49
Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2018.

However, Article 8 shall apply from 1 February 2018 and Article 46 shall apply retroactively from 1 January 2017.

The provisions on fishing opportunities set out in Articles 20, 21 and 22 and Annexes IE and V for certain stocks in the CCAMLR Convention Area shall apply from 1 December 2017.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

LIST OF ANNEXES

ANNEX I: TACs applicable to Union fishing vessels in areas where TACs exist by species and by area
ANNEX IA: Skagerrak, Kattegat, ICES subareas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14, Union waters of CECAF, French Guiana waters
ANNEX IB: North East Atlantic and Greenland, ICES subareas 1, 2, 5, 12 and 14 and Greenland waters of NAFO 1
ANNEX IC: North West Atlantic — NAFO Convention Area
ANNEX ID: ICCAT Convention Area
ANNEX IE: Antarctic — CCAMLR Convention Area
ANNEX IF: South-East Atlantic Ocean — SEAFO Convention Area
ANNEX IG: Southern bluefin tuna — areas of distribution
ANNEX IH: WCPFC Convention Area
ANNEX IJ: SPRFMO Convention Area
ANNEX IK IOTC Area of Competence
ANNEX IL GFCM Agreement Area
ANNEX IIA: Fishing effort for vessels in ICES subarea 4
ANNEX IIB: Fishing effort for vessels in the context of the recovery of certain Southern hake and Norway lobster stocks in ICES divisions 8c and 9a excluding the Gulf of Cádiz
ANNEX IIC: Fishing effort for vessels in the context of the management of Western Channel sole stocks in ICES division 7e
ANNEX IID: Management areas for sandeel in ICES divisions 2a, 3a and ICES subarea 4
ANNEX III: Maximum number of fishing authorisations for Union fishing vessels in third-country waters
ANNEX IV: ICCAT Convention Area
ANNEX V: CCAMLR Convention Area
ANNEX VI: IOTC Area of Competence
ANNEX VII: WCPFC Convention Area
ANNEX VIII: Quantitative limitations of fishing authorisations for third-country vessels fishing in Union waters

ANNEX I

TACs APPLICABLE TO UNION FISHING VESSELS IN AREAS WHERE TACs EXIST BY SPECIES AND BY AREA

The tables in Annexes IA, IB, IC, ID, IE, IF, IG, IJ, IK and IL set out the TACs and quotas (in tonnes live weight, except where otherwise specified) by stock, and, where appropriate, the conditions functionally linked thereto.

All fishing opportunities set out in this Annex shall be subject to the rules set out in Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 ([^E0018]), and in particular Articles 33 and 34 of that Regulation.

The references to fishing zones are references to ICES zones, unless otherwise specified. Within each area, fish stocks are referred to following the alphabetical order of the Latin names of the species. Only Latin names identify species for regulatory purposes; vernacular names are provided for ease of reference.

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following comparative table of Latin names and common names is provided:

Scientific name Alpha-3 code Common name
Amblyraja radiata RJR Starry ray
Ammodytes spp. SAN Sandeels
Argentina silus ARU Greater silver smelt
Beryx spp. ALF Alfonsinos
Brosme brosme USK Tusk
Caproidae BOR Boarfish
Centrophorus squamosus GUQ Leafscale gulper shark
Centroscymnus coelolepis CYO Portuguese dogfish
Chaceon spp. GER Deep sea red crab
Chaenocephalus aceratus SSI Blackfin icefish
Champsocephalus gunnari ANI Mackerel icefish
Channichthys rhinoceratus LIC Unicorn icefish
Chionoecetes spp. PCR Snow crab
Clupea harengus HER Herring
Coryphaenoides rupestris RNG Roundnose grenadier
Dalatias licha SCK Kitefin shark
Deania calcea DCA Birdbeak dogfish
Dicentrarchus labrax BSS European seabass
Dipturus batis (Dipturus cf. flossada and Dipturus cf. intermedia) RJB Common skate complex
Dissostichus eleginoides TOP Patagonian toothfish
Dissostichus mawsoni TOA Antarctic toothfish
Dissostichus spp. TOT Toothfish
Engraulis encrasicolus ANE Anchovy
Etmopterus princeps ETR Great lanternshark
Etmopterus pusillus ETP Smooth lanternshark
Euphausia superba KRI Krill
Gadus morhua COD Cod
Galeorhinus galeus GAG Tope shark
Glyptocephalus cynoglossus WIT Witch flounder
Hippoglossoides platessoides PLA American plaice
Hippoglossus hippoglossus HAL Atlantic halibut
Hoplostethus atlanticus ORY Orange roughy
Illex illecebrosus SQI Shortfin squid
Lamna nasus POR Porbeagle
Lepidorhombus spp. LEZ Megrims
Leucoraja naevus RJN Cuckoo ray
Limanda ferruginea YEL Yellowtail flounder
Lophiidae ANF Anglerfish
Macrourus spp. GRV Grenadiers
Makaira nigricans BUM Blue marlin
Mallotus villosus CAP Capelin
Manta birostris RMB Giant manta ray
Martialia hyadesi SQS Squid
Melanogrammus aeglefinus HAD Haddock
Merlangius merlangus WHG Whiting
Merluccius merluccius HKE Hake
Micromesistius poutassou WHB Blue whiting
Microstomus kitt LEM Lemon sole
Molva dypterygia BLI Blue ling
Molva molva LIN Ling
Nephrops norvegicus NEP Norway lobster
Notothenia gibberifrons NOG Humped rockcod
Notothenia rossii NOR Marbled rockcod
Notothenia squamifrons NOS Grey rockcod
Pandalus borealis PRA Northern prawn
Paralomis spp. PAI Crabs
Penaeus spp. PEN ‘Penaeus’ shrimps
Pleuronectes platessa PLE Plaice
Pleuronectiformes FLX Flatfish
Pollachius pollachius POL Pollack
Pollachius virens POK Saithe
Psetta maxima TUR Turbot
Pseudochaenichthys georgianus SGI South Georgia icefish
Pseudopentaceros spp. EDW Pelagic armourhead
Raja alba RJA White skate
Raja brachyura RJH Blonde ray
Raja circularis RJI Sandy ray
Raja clavata RJC Thornback ray
Raja fullonica RJF Shagreen ray
Raja (Dipturus) nidarosiensis JAD Norwegian skate
Raja microocellata RJE Small-eyed ray
Raja montagui RJM Spotted ray
Raja undulata RJU Undulate ray
Rajiformes SRX Skates and rays
Reinhardtius hippoglossoides GHL Greenland halibut
Sardina pilchardus PIL Sardine
Scomber scombrus MAC Mackerel
Scophthalmus rhombus BLL Brill
Sebastes spp. RED Redfish
Solea solea SOL Common sole
Solea spp. SOO Sole
Sprattus sprattus SPR Sprat
Squalus acanthias DGS Picked dogfish
Tetrapturus albidus WHM White marlin
Thunnus maccoyii SBF Southern bluefin tuna
Thunnus obesus BET Bigeye tuna
Thunnus thynnus BFT Bluefin tuna
Trachurus murphyi CJM Jack mackerel
Trachurus spp. JAX Horse mackerel
Trisopterus esmarkii NOP Norway pout
Urophycis tenuis HKW White hake
Xiphias gladius SWO Swordfish

The following comparative table of common names and Latin names is provided exclusively for explanatory purposes:

Common name Alpha-3 code Scientific name
Alfonsinos ALF Beryx spp.
American plaice PLA Hippoglossoides platessoides
Anchovy ANE Engraulis encrasicolus
Anglerfish ANF Lophiidae
Antarctic toothfish TOA Dissostichus mawsoni
Atlantic halibut HAL Hippoglossus hippoglossus
Bigeye tuna BET Thunnus obesus
Birdbeak dogfish DCA Deania calcea
Blackfin icefish SSI Chaenocephalus aceratus
Blonde ray RJH Raja brachyura
Blue ling BLI Molva dypterygia
Blue marlin BUM Makaira nigricans
Blue whiting WHB Micromesistius poutassou
Bluefin tuna BFT Thunnus thynnus
Boarfish BOR Caproidae
Brill BLL Scophthalmus rhombus
Capelin CAP Mallotus villosus
Cod COD Gadus morhua
Common skate complex RJB Dipturus batis (Dipturus cf. flossada and Dipturus cf. intermedia)
Common sole SOL Solea solea
Crabs PAI Paralomis spp.
Cuckoo ray RJN Leucoraja naevus
Deep sea red crab GER Chaceon spp.
Flatfish FLX Pleuronectiformes
Giant manta ray RMB Manta birostris
Great lanternshark ETR Etmopterus princeps
Greater silver smelt ARU Argentina silus
Greenland halibut GHL Reinhardtius hippoglossoides
Grenadiers GRV Macrourus spp.
Grey rockcod NOS Notothenia squamifrons
Haddock HAD Melanogrammus aeglefinus
Hake HKE Merluccius merluccius
Herring HER Clupea harengus
Horse mackerel JAX Trachurus spp.
Humped rockcod NOG Notothenia gibberifrons
Jack mackerel CJM Trachurus murphyi
Kitefin shark SCK Dalatias licha
Krill KRI Euphausia superba
Leafscale gulper shark GUQ Centrophorus squamosus
Lemon sole LEM Microstomus kitt
Ling LIN Molva molva
Mackerel MAC Scomber scombrus
Mackerel icefish ANI Champsocephalus gunnari
Marbled rockcod NOR Notothenia rossii
Megrims LEZ Lepidorhombus spp.
Northern prawn PRA Pandalus borealis
Norway lobster NEP Nephrops norvegicus
Norway pout NOP Trisopterus esmarkii
Norwegian skate JAD Raja (Dipturus) nidarosiensis
Orange roughy ORY Hoplostethus atlanticus
Patagonian toothfish TOP Dissostichus eleginoides
Pelagic armourhead EDW Pseudopentaceros spp.
‘Penaeus’ shrimps PEN Penaeus spp.
Picked dogfish DGS Squalus acanthias
Plaice PLE Pleuronectes platessa
Pollack POL Pollachius pollachius
Porbeagle POR Lamna nasus
Portuguese dogfish CYO Centroscymnus coelolepis
Redfish RED Sebastes spp.
Roundnose grenadier RNG Coryphaenoides rupestris
Saithe POK Pollachius virens
Sandeels SAN Ammodytes spp.
Sandy ray RJI Raja circularis
Sardine PIL Sardina pilchardus
European seabass BSS Dicentrarchus labrax
Shagreen ray RJF Raja fullonica
Shortfin squid SQI Illex illecebrosus
Skates and rays SRX Rajiformes
Small-eyed ray RJE Raja microocellata
Smooth lanternshark ETP Etmopterus pusillus
Snow crab PCR Chionoecetes spp.
Sole SOO Solea spp.
South Georgia icefish SGI Pseudochaenichthys georgianus
Southern bluefin tuna SBF Thunnus maccoyii
Spotted ray RJM Raja montagui
Sprat SPR Sprattus sprattus
Squid SQS Martialia hyadesi
Starry ray RJR Amblyraja radiata
Swordfish SWO Xiphias gladius
Thornback ray RJC Raja clavata
Toothfish TOT Dissostichus spp.
Tope shark GAG Galeorhinus galeus
Turbot TUR Psetta maxima
Tusk USK Brosme brosme
Undulate ray RJU Raja undulata
Unicorn icefish LIC Channichthys rhinoceratus
White hake HKW Urophycis tenuis
White marlin WHM Tetrapturus albidus
White skate RJA Raja alba
Whiting WHG Merlangius merlangus
Witch flounder WIT Glyptocephalus cynoglossus
Yellowtail flounder YEL Limanda ferruginea

ANNEX IA

SKAGERRAK, KATTEGAT, ICES SUBAREAS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 AND 14, UNION WATERS OF CECAF, FRENCH GUIANA WATERS

Species: Sandeel and associated by-catches Ammodytes spp. Sandeel and associated by-catches Ammodytes spp. Zone: Union waters of 2a, 3a and 4 [^E0019]
Denmark Denmark 195 875  [^E0020]
United Kingdom United Kingdom 4 282  [^E0020]
Germany Germany 300 [^E0020]
Sweden Sweden 7 193  [^E0020]
Union Union 207 650
TAC TAC 207 650 Analytical TAC Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Special condition: within the limits of the abovementioned quotas, no more than the quantities given below may be taken in the following sandeel management areas, as defined in Annex IID: Zone: Union waters of sandeel management areas 1r 2r [^E0021] 3r 4 5r 6 7r (SAN/234_1R) (SAN/234_2R) (SAN/234_3R) (SAN/234_4) (SAN/234_5R) (SAN/234_6) (SAN/234_7R) Denmark 126 837 4 717 8 177 55 979 0 165 0 United Kingdom 2 772 103 179 1 224 0 4 0 Germany 194 7 13 86 0 0 0 Sweden 4 658 173 300 2 056 0 6 0 Union 134 461 5 000 8 669 59 345 0 175 0 Total 134 461 5 000 8 669 59 345 0 175 0 Special condition: within the limits of the abovementioned quotas, no more than the quantities given below may be taken in the following sandeel management areas, as defined in Annex IID: Zone: Union waters of sandeel management areas 1r 2r [^E0021] 3r 4 5r 6 7r (SAN/234_1R) (SAN/234_2R) (SAN/234_3R) (SAN/234_4) (SAN/234_5R) (SAN/234_6) (SAN/234_7R) Denmark 126 837 4 717 8 177 55 979 0 165 0 United Kingdom 2 772 103 179 1 224 0 4 0 Germany 194 7 13 86 0 0 0 Sweden 4 658 173 300 2 056 0 6 0 Union 134 461 5 000 8 669 59 345 0 175 0 Total 134 461 5 000 8 669 59 345 0 175 0 Special condition: within the limits of the abovementioned quotas, no more than the quantities given below may be taken in the following sandeel management areas, as defined in Annex IID: Zone: Union waters of sandeel management areas 1r 2r [^E0021] 3r 4 5r 6 7r (SAN/234_1R) (SAN/234_2R) (SAN/234_3R) (SAN/234_4) (SAN/234_5R) (SAN/234_6) (SAN/234_7R) Denmark 126 837 4 717 8 177 55 979 0 165 0 United Kingdom 2 772 103 179 1 224 0 4 0 Germany 194 7 13 86 0 0 0 Sweden 4 658 173 300 2 056 0 6 0 Union 134 461 5 000 8 669 59 345 0 175 0 Total 134 461 5 000 8 669 59 345 0 175 0 Special condition: within the limits of the abovementioned quotas, no more than the quantities given below may be taken in the following sandeel management areas, as defined in Annex IID: Zone: Union waters of sandeel management areas 1r 2r [^E0021] 3r 4 5r 6 7r (SAN/234_1R) (SAN/234_2R) (SAN/234_3R) (SAN/234_4) (SAN/234_5R) (SAN/234_6) (SAN/234_7R) Denmark 126 837 4 717 8 177 55 979 0 165 0 United Kingdom 2 772 103 179 1 224 0 4 0 Germany 194 7 13 86 0 0 0 Sweden 4 658 173 300 2 056 0 6 0 Union 134 461 5 000 8 669 59 345 0 175 0 Total 134 461 5 000 8 669 59 345 0 175 0 Special condition: within the limits of the abovementioned quotas, no more than the quantities given below may be taken in the following sandeel management areas, as defined in Annex IID: Zone: Union waters of sandeel management areas 1r 2r [^E0021] 3r 4 5r 6 7r (SAN/234_1R) (SAN/234_2R) (SAN/234_3R) (SAN/234_4) (SAN/234_5R) (SAN/234_6) (SAN/234_7R) Denmark 126 837 4 717 8 177 55 979 0 165 0 United Kingdom 2 772 103 179 1 224 0 4 0 Germany 194 7 13 86 0 0 0 Sweden 4 658 173 300 2 056 0 6 0 Union 134 461 5 000 8 669 59 345 0 175 0 Total 134 461 5 000 8 669 59 345 0 175 0

[^E0019]: (1)Excluding waters within six nautical miles of the UK baselines at Shetland, Fair Isle and Foula.

[^E0020]: (2)Up to 2 % of the quota may consist of by-catches of whiting and mackerel (OT1/*2A3A4). By-catches of whiting and mackerel counted against the quota pursuant to this provision and by-catches of species counted against the quota pursuant to Article 15(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 shall, together, not exceed 9 % of the quota.

[^E0021]: (1)In management area 2r the TAC may only be fished as a monitoring TAC with an associated sampling protocol for the fishery.

Species: Greater silver smelt Argentina silus Greater silver smelt Argentina silus Zone: Union and international waters of 1 and 2 (ARU/1/2.)
Germany Germany 24
France France 8
The Netherlands The Netherlands 19
United Kingdom United Kingdom 39
Union Union 90
TAC TAC 90 Precautionary TAC
Species: Greater silver smelt Argentina silus Greater silver smelt Argentina silus Zone: Union waters of 3a and 4 (ARU/3A4-C)
--- --- --- --- ---
Denmark Denmark 1 093
Germany Germany 11
France France 8
Ireland Ireland 8
The Netherlands The Netherlands 51
Sweden Sweden 43
United Kingdom United Kingdom 20
Union Union 1 234
TAC TAC 1 234 Precautionary TAC
Species: Greater silver smelt Argentina silus Greater silver smelt Argentina silus Zone: Union and international waters of 5, 6 and 7 (ARU/567.)
--- --- --- --- ---
Germany Germany 355
France France 7
Ireland Ireland 329
The Netherlands The Netherlands 3 710
United Kingdom United Kingdom 260
Union Union 4 661
TAC TAC 4 661 Precautionary TAC
Species: Tusk Brosme brosme Tusk Brosme brosme Zone: Union and international waters of 1, 2 and 14 (USK/1214EI)
--- --- --- --- ---
Germany Germany 6 [^E0022]
France France 6 [^E0022]
United Kingdom United Kingdom 6 [^E0022]
Others Others 3 [^E0022]
Union Union 21 [^E0022]
TAC TAC 21 Precautionary TAC

[^E0022]: (1)Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.

Species: Tusk Brosme brosme Tusk Brosme brosme Zone: 3a (USK/03A.)
Denmark Denmark 15
Sweden Sweden 8
Germany Germany 8
Union Union 31
TAC TAC 31 Precautionary TAC Article 7(2) of this Regulation applies
Species: Tusk Brosme brosme Tusk Brosme brosme Zone: Union waters of 4 (USK/04-C.)
--- --- --- --- ---
Denmark Denmark 68
Germany Germany 20
France France 47
Sweden Sweden 7
United Kingdom United Kingdom 102
Others Others 7 [^E0023]
Union Union 251
TAC TAC 251 Precautionary TAC Article 7(2) of this Regulation applies

[^E0023]: (1)Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.

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